Irish immigrants also came illegally

Published 1:00 am, Thursday, April 27, 2006

No illegal immigrants or no immigrants?

I thought the concern was that immigrants weren't legal and lobbying for legislation would permit entry into the United States but require documentation.

Given the nature of input in this letters column and coverage in The News-Times, I'm not so sure. There seem to be "citizens" and legislators that would prefer to build a great wall around their turf and keep "others" out completely.

I have read that economists project amnesty will cost $10 billion - in an $8 trillion budget; maybe the discussion should be the rest of the budget.

Over 20 years ago visiting Ellis Island, I could only find my grandmother's name but not find my grandfather's. Only then I was told the truth. My grandfather didn't come in "legally" from Ireland.

He did not have a sponsor. A boat deposited him and other illegals at the Canadian border and they snuck in. He didn't come from a "home" to be sent back to. His parents died when he was young and he was "graciously" taken in by distant relatives at the age of 13 and became their servant, living with the animals in the barn, even in the winters.

My grandfather arrived in the late '20s and drove a Central Park carriage, and eventually drove a New York City bus for 30 years.

He became a citizen, married and raised his family in the Bronx. Luckily, he spoke English, though many times I couldn't understand him with his heavy Gaelic brogue. He never expected anyone else to take care of his family, and taught his work ethic to his children.

The answers aren't simple, but what makes us belong to the exclusion of others from venturing the path that led us here in the first place? Who is not an immigrant?